In spite of the peach tree’s short life, its fruit was a symbol of immortality to the ancient Chinese. They exchanged the fruit as a token of affection and placed bowls of peaches in the tombs of loved ones to prevent the bodies from decaying. Peaches are believed to have originated in China then to have spread westward through Asia to the Mediterranean countries and later to other parts of Europe. The Spanish explorers brought the peach to the New World.